Turbine



June 19; 1945. F. R. VlERA 2,378,740-

I TURBINE Filed Feb. 22, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N y m Q :1

- lm/entor Fwd-MK m6 I A). o \l I WW ,5 M5:

F. R. VIERA Jun 19, 1945.

TURBfENE Filed Feb. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor I 72.2 Rome-7c Vz'rw F. R. VIERA June 19, 1945.

TURB INE F iled Feb. 22, 1945' 4 Sheets-Shet 3 flank 30727900 View By and mm M F. R. Vl ERA TURBINE June 19, 1945.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb.. 22, 1943 Inventor Fan/Z3 7207178 6 )'era/ B and several views, and wherein;

Patented June 19, 1945 UNI TED STATES PAT DF F 1 CE- l TURBINE Frank Romcx Viera, Glendora, Calif. Application February 22,1943, Serial No. 476,747. (01. 253-165') 1 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in turbines; and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a. manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a novel construction, .combination and arrangement whereby centrifugal as well as kinetic force is utilized to assist. the impelling fluidin actuating the driven member. Another important object of the invention. is to provide, in a turbine of the character described comprising a hollow, cylindrical fluidactuated rotor, unique means for regulating or controlling the speed of said rotor.

Still another important object: of? theinvention is to provide a fluid turbine of the'aforementioned character which embodies novel means for rotatably supporting and lubricating the shaft of the rotor.

The end portions of the casing I are pro vided with oil chambered. Plates 5 close the chambers 4.

provided with drain plugs 1. i Transverse partitions 8 are provided in the upper portions of the oil chambers 4. Suitable bearings 9 are provided in the partitions 8. A

longitudinal. shaft ill is journaled' in the bear- Oil pick-up rings l l are mountedoninwardly of the bearings 9'.

the shaft W. r

Fixed, on the shaft I0 is a sleeve H. The

' sleeve 14 carries a hollowcylindrical rotor 1-5 Other objects of the invention are to provide a fluid turbine oi the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction,

strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, quiet, compact, of light weight, andwhich may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still furtherobjects and advantages of the invention: will become apparent from astudy of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters: of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the Figure l is a view in longitudinal section through a turbine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a crossseotional view, taken subjstantially on the line 2-2 of Figure i g Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section through the fluid strainer or filter,taken substantially on theline 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a 'viewin vertical section through another form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevational View of the rotor.

Figure 8 is a detail View in perspective of the speed regulating member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral I designates generally an elongated casing of suitable dimensions and material, said casing comprising a base portion 2. Communicating with the casing I at one end thereof is a longitudinally extending fluid outlet 3.

comprising. a closed end Hi, the other end of said rotor being open. A removable speed change ring [1 is threaded onthe, open end'of the rotor I5. Fluid throw-cit disks #8 are provided adjacent the ends of the rotor l5.

Manifolds 20 extend longitudinally into the rotor l5 through the open end thereof. The manifolds 20 are provided with any suitable number of nozzles 2|. The manifolds 213* may be connected with any suitable source otfluid. Strainers or filters 22 are provided'for' prevent ing foreign matter from entering the manifolds 2.6 and clogging the nozzles 2l. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawings, the nonzles 21 of the manifolds. 2B are arranged to drive the rotor 15 in opposite directions; I

i It is thought that the operation of the turbine will be readily apparent from a considerationof the foregoing. Briefly, jets oi the inipelling fluid are directed tangentially against the inner periphery of thecylindrical rotor I5 by the nozzles 2! on. either of the manifolds 253. Any suitable means may be provided for controllingthe: manifolds 20. The tangential jets of fluid un er pressure impinging the innerperipheryof the rotor I5 frictionally drive said rotor. The fluid flows from the open end of the rotor l5 and escapes to any suitable point of discharge through the outlet 3 in the casing I. As the rotor I5 gathers speed, the frictional contact therewith of the fluid therein is increased by centrifugal force. Thus, a film of the fluid is caused to adhere to the rotor. The thickness of this film and consequently the speed of the rotor I5 is changed bythe application of-difierentremovable rings i! having openings of different sizes. As the thickness of the fluid fihn increases, thespeed of the rotor I5 decreases.

Filling plugs 6 are provided for the oil chambers 4. The chambers 4 are also The modification which has been illustrated in Fig. 5 comprises a vertically elongated casing 23 including an enlarged base portion 24. A fluid outlet 25 communicates with the lower portion 24 of the casing 23.

Journaled in suitable bearings 26 which are provided therefor in the upper and lower portions of the casing 23 is a vertical shaft 21. Oil I chambers 28 are provided for lubricating the bearings 26. Filling and drain plugs 29 and 30, respectively, are provided for the oil chambers 28. Suitable seals 3i prevent oil leakage from the chambers 28 past the shaft 21. a x

A sleeve 32 is fixed on the shaft 2i. The sleeve 32 carries a hollow cylindrical rotor 33 having a closed upper end 34, the lower-end of said rotor being open. A speed change ring 35 is removably mounted on the open lower end of the vertical rotor 33. Extending upwardly into the rotor 33 from the lower end thereof is a pair of manifolds 36 comprising suitable nozzles 37. The manifolds 36 are connected to any suitable source of impelling fluid. Strainers or filters 38 are provided for the manifolds 36. Fluid throw-off disks 39 are provided on the shaft 21 above and below the rotor 33.

In construction and operation, the members 2i to 39, inclusive, are substantially similar to the corresponding members of the embodiment of Figure l. Jets of fluid under pressure from either of the manifolds 33 impinge the inner periphery of the hollow cylindrical rotor 33 and actuate same, said jets being directed tangentially against said rotor. The spent fluid flows downwardly into the enlarged lower portion 24 of the x casing 23 through the open end of the rotor 33 and is discharged through the outlet 25.

It is believed that the many advantages of a turbine constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. i

What is claimed is? I i 1. A turbine of the character described comprising a casing, a hollow, cylindrical rotor journaled in said casing, said rotor being closed at one end andopen at its other end, means for discharging jets of fluid against the inner periphery of the rotor for actuating same, and means on the open end of the rotor for causing the fluid to assume-a film of pre-determined thickness on the inner periphery of the rotor, the last-named means including a ring threaded on said open end of the rotor and having an annular flange projecting inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the latter, said.ring being removable to permit selective use of rings having flanges of different widths so that the speed of 'therotor may be changed.

2. A turbine of the character described comprising an elongated casing, aligned bearings in opposite ends of said casing, a shaft journaled in the bearings, a sleeve fixed on said shaft between the bearings, a hollow, elongated cylindrical rotor fixed on said sleeve within the casing, said rotor being closed at one end and open at its other end, a manifold, for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, extending longitudinally into the rotor through the open end thereof, nozzles on the manifold for directing a series of jets of the fluid against the inner periphery of the rotor at different points along the length thereof for actuating said rotor, and a removable ring mounted on the open end of the rotor and having an annular flange extending inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the latter to cause the fluid to assume a film of predetermined thickness on the inner periphery of the rotor, said ring being removable to permit selective use of rings havingflanges of different widths so that the speed of the rotor may be changed.

3. A turbine of the character described comprising a horizontally elongated casing, oil chambers in the end portions of said casing, transverse partitions in the chambers, bearings in said partitions, a longitudinal shaft journaled in the bearings, oil pick-up rings on the shaft in the chambers, a sleeve fixed on the shaft, a hollow, cylindrical rotor fixed on said sleeve, said rotor being closed at one end and open at its other end, a manifold, for connection with a source of impelling fluid, extending longitudinally into the rotor through the open end thereof, nozzles on the manifold for directing jets of the fluid tangentially against the inner periphery of the rotor, and a removable ring thre'adedly mounted on the open end of the rotor and extending inwardly beyond the inner periphery thereof for causing the fluid to assume a film of pre-determined thickness on the inner periphery of the rotor.

4. A turbine of the character described com prisin a vertically'elongated casing, 'aligned bearings in the upper and lower portions of said casing, a vertical shaft journaled in said bearings, asleeve fixed on the shaft, a rotor fixed on said sleeve, said rotor being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, a manifold, for connection with asource of impelling fluid, extending upwardly in the rotor through the lower end thereof, nozzles on the manifold for directing jets of the fluid tangentially againstthe inner periphery of the rotor for actuating same, and a removable ring threadedly mounted on the lower end of the rotor and extending inwardly beyond the inner periphery thereof for causing the fluid to assume a film of ore-determined thickness on the inner periphery of the rotor.

FRANK ROMEX VIERA. 

